Alternative rap legend Danny Brown brings his unstoppable live show to the O2 Ritz, Manchester.

STARDUST

Tonight is in support of Danny Brown’s latest album Stardust, a record that saw him venturing into the loud and maximalist world of hyper-pop and EDM. The result was an uplifting and addictive hip hop album, that truly only Brown could’ve made. With Stardust having such a danceable and feel-good sound throughout, I couldn’t wait to experience it in a live setting.

Wasting no time whatsoever, as the clock strikes 8:45PM, the lights go dark and we hear the opening of Starburst, the album’s lead single. Danny bursts on stage to a riotous reaction by the crowd before launching into the songs opening verse. Having seen Danny live a few times, I still find it unbelievably impressive how he performs with such minimal vocal backing. The flows and lyrics he is able to deliver at such a clear and consistent level throughout is mind-blowing. Following this we get more songs from the new record that as expected, go off. The choruses of Flowers and Green Light prompt the first sing-a-longs of the night. The bounce of Lift You Up gets the crowd moving early on.

We then move back to 2011, with Danny playing songs from XXX. The grimy instrumental of Lie4 sounds fantastic through the speakers. I Will slows things down, but still keeps the audience involved with plenty of call and response in the chorus./sep

OLD/ATROCITY EXHIBITION

It’s not long until the energy is on the increase again. The opening synth lead of Smokin’ and Drinking echoes through the room, and as soon as Brown enters the track, the place erupts. The party atmosphere has well and truly filled the venue. It is a sight to behold with lyrics being screamed, mosh pits opening, and Danny running up and down the stage. Another track off of 2013’s Old is next, Dip which whips the crowd into a frenzy. It’s interesting to see how well these songs translate live with well over a decade since they were released. Also, how much they fit with the hyper-pop sounds seen in Danny’s most recent work. It’s a clear example of Danny’s innovation and how he has always been ahead of the curve.

As we hear tracks from fan favourite album, Atrocity Exhibition, I find myself right in the middle of the crowd. The energy from Danny and the audience is too infectious for to ignore. The build in When it Rain is captivating and almost tense, whereas Ain’t It Funny sends the crowd to another level right off the bat. Both songs yet again demonstrate the downright skill that Danny has on the live stage. Every word performed is clear as day, even throughout the chaos.

COLLABORATIONS

The show then transitions into a celebration of some of Danny’s recent collaborations. Songs with artists such as JPEGMAFIA, Frost Children and Fred Again are played. However, the highlight is the performance of Jane Remover’s Psychoboost. The song is an absolute powerhouse of frantic, nonstop energy. In the crowd, it is impossible to stand still; bodies flying. The sprung floor of the O2 Ritz is utilised to its full potential.

Moving back to Stardust before the end of the night, Copycats receives the biggest sing-along with the crowd screaming the chorus originally performed by Underscores. It is a truly euphoric moment with Danny looking to be having just as good of a time as the concertgoers.

Before the show comes to an end, Danny shares a heartfelt speech. He speaks about his sobriety, the importance of following your dreams, and his main inspiration for continuing to make music, which is his fans. This perfectly transitions into the last song of the night, All4U. The performance is powerful, especially with the repeated lyric “now I do this all for you” which feels truly genuine coming from Brown. The song works well in the Stardust album but hits even harder as a closing song to the live show. As it comes to an end, he makes his way off stage, and the night is over.

Danny Brown is an artist who throughout his career, has consistently challenged and pushed himself creatively. This means he is able to have a live show that is unlike any of his contemporaries. The tight 60-minute set time is perfect, with not a moment wasted throughout.

All photos courtesy of Anya Williams.

Danny Brown: Website

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